Shipping case



Patented June 20, 1944 SHIPPING CASE John K. Limbert, Waterloo, Iowa,assignor to Central Fibre Products Company Inc., Chicago, Ill., acorporation of Delaware Application January 22, 1943, Serial No. 473,205

9 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in cases or crates made offibre, corrugated board and the like for use in shipping relativelysmall fragile articles. One principal use of the improved case is forthe shipment of eggs. Therefore, the invention will be described inconnection with such use, which, however, is to be considered only byway of illustration and not by way of limitation.

I am ware that egg cases of fibre, corrugated board and the like to takethe place of the standard wooden case, have heretofore been devised butthe same have not proven entirely satisfac tory for one or more reasons.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide an egg casewhich can be made of fibre orcorrugated board. which may be used for allpractical purposes for which the standard wooden egg case is used. andwhich at the same time overcomes the disadvantages found in fibre orcorrugated board egg cases heretofore devised.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a shipping casesimilar in size and shape to the standard wooden egg case, and whereinthe various parts thereof so interengage and brace each other that thecase will not bow or bulge at the ends under the action of the weight ofthe eggs packed therein.

A further object of the invention is to provide a case of this kind thatincludes a cover so supported upon the body of the case that it remainssmooth and even in its top surface and cannot spring at the ends toproject in a manner to catch on a neighbor case when sliding one caseupon another as when stacking such cases in tiers.

Again, it is an object of the invention to provide, in a. shipping caseof this kind, a novel cover for the body of the case and which cover andassociated parts of the body are so constructed that they interengage ina firmer looking but de tachable connection.

Also, it is a further object of the invention to provide a shipping caseof this kind having a smoother and more even interior ve tical wallsurfaces from top to bottom so that when packing eggs therein by the useof conventional flats and fillers, the insertion of such has and fillersis greatly facilitated.

Furthermore, it is an object of the invention to provide a shipping caseof this kind wherein the cover, when in place upon the body, issupported about its margin by all of the uprigrht walls of the case andis transversely supported 55 midway of its ends so that when the casesare filled and stacked, the weight of the upper cases is not imparted tothe contents of the cases below, but is transmitted directly from andthrough the structure of one case to that of the other.

It is also an object of the invention to provide, in a case of thiskind, a. construction wherein the parts forming the ends of the caseremain flat and parallel without a tendency to bow outwardly when partsof its associated cover are tucked into place between portions of saidends whereby the cover is detachably locked to the o y.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a construction fora shipping case of this kind wherein the end walls are formed to providebumper like cleats which act to absorb end shocks and which cleats atthe same time permit truck handling as with egg trucks often employed inhandling wooden egg cases.

Also, it is a further object of the invention to provide a case of thiskind having substantially the same dimensional characteristics as thestandard and conventional wooden egg case so that the use of theimproved cases does not change handling procedure, car loading orstorage space requirements.

The above mentioned objects of the invention, as well as others,together with the several advantages thereof Will more fully appear asthe specification proceeds.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an egg case embodying the preferred formof the invention, packed with eggs in the usual manner, with partsillustrated as broken away better to show the structure involved.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view through the egg case shown in Fig.l as taken on the line 2-2 thereof, the eggs, fillers and flats beingomitted for the sake of clarity.

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view through the egg case astaken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, the eggs, fillers and flats beingomitted.

Figs. 4 and 5 respectively are detail vertical sectional views throughupper portions of one end of the case (contents omitted) on a somewhatenlarged scale, as taken on the lines 4-4 and 5-5 respectively of Fig.1.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the blank from which the body of the improvedegg case is made.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the blank from which the cover for the body ismade.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of one of a pair of blanks which when folded anddisposed in the body forms a transverse partition therein dividing thebody into two compartments of equal size and which also serves otherpurposes.

Fig. 9 is a view illustrating the manner of folding the blank of Fig. 8into substantially a U shape before placing the same in the body.

Fig. 10 is a detail view similar to Fig. but showing a modiijedconstruction.

Referring now in detail to that embodiment of the invention illustratedin the drawings and especially to Fig. 6 thereof, the body of the caseis formed from a cut and scored blank of sheet material, indicated as awhole by the reference numeral In. This blank is substantiallyrectangular in form and may be any of a number, of

sheet materials or stocks such as fibre or corrugated board or the like.rial is a double faced corrugated board having what is known in thetrade as a C flute.

represent the sides of the bottom of the body when the blank is foldedto form the same. Said blank is also scored along the lines I 3 and Mwhich represent the ends of the bottom of the body when the blank isfolded to form the same. Also, said blank is slit as at I5-l5 and Iii-l6and is further provided with scored line [1-H and Ill-I0. It will benoted that the lines l3 and I4 are offset longitudinally with respect tothe lines [1-H and Ill-I8. The offset is substantially equal to thethickness of the stock com prising the two flaps 2l-23 so that the linesl3 and M will be substantially coincident with the outer faces of themembers 23-23 when the sheet is folded to form the case body.

The blank so scored and slit provides the bottom I9 and the sides 2020of the body as well as inner, outer and intermediate end wall parts2I-22 and 23 respectively. The terms inner, outer, and intermediate ashere used, denote the relative positions said parts occupy when theblank ID has been set up or folded to provide the body of the case. Theinner end wall parts 2| are connected to one of the sides 20 by the Saidblank is scored along the lines II and I2, which One preferredmatescored lines Hi, the outer end wall parts 22 are 1'.

connected to the ends of the bottom I9 by the scored lines i3 and I4 andthe intermediate end wall parts 23 are connected to the other of thesides by the scored lines l1. Each inner end wall part 2| is providedalong one side with an extension 24 in which is a pair of score lines25-25.

In the parts 2| and 23 of the blank are cut out openings 26 and 21respectively. The parts 22 of the blank are cut and scored as at 20 andregister with the openings 26 and 21 in the associated end wall parts ofthe body for a purpose later to appear.

In setting up the blank of Fig. 6 to form the body, the sides 20-20 areswung upwardly about the score lines H and l2 to stand perpendicular tothe bottom. The inner end wall parts 2I-2l are then folded inwardlyabout the score lines Hi to coincide with the score lines l3 and I4,

after which the intermediate end wall parts 23-23 are then swunginwardly about the score lines l1-l1 to engage and lie flat against theouter surfaces of the end wall parts 2l-2l. Thereafter the outer endwall parts are swung upwardly about the score lines I3 and I4 to engageand li fiatwise against the outer face of the intermediate end wallparts 23-23. Before so swinging the end wall parts 22-22 into place, thetab in each one of them is swung upwardly about the score lines 29 tolie against the outer face of said outer end wall part 22. Thereafter,the extension 24 of each inner end wall part 2| is folded about the pairof scored lines 25-25 therein and turned downwardly to overlap and lieagainst the tab 30 of the associated end wall part 22, as best appearsin Figs. 4 and 5. From these figures it is apparent that a space 31 isprovided between the upper portion of the outer end wall part 22 and theflap extension 24 and which space has a depth equal to the thickness ofhe ssociated rah- I. When the parts have been folded and arranged asdescribed, the openings left by turning back the tab 30 will registerwith the openings 26 and 21 in the end wall parts 23 and 22 respectivelyand form a hand hold 32 (see Figs. 1 and 5). In order to hold the bodyin its set up condition, I provide the following: 33 (see Fig. 5)indicates a strip of gummed fabric back paper stock which has a widthapproximating that of the hand hold opening 32. After moistening thegummed side of this strip, it is inserted through the hand hold opening32 and the ends thereof are passed upwardly around the inner and outersurfaces of the case parts above said opening until the ends overlap.The overlapped ends are then pressed into adhering contact therewith.This secures the three wall parts 2l-22 and 23 of each end of the casetightly together and at the same time secures the flap extension 24 inplace as best appears in Figs. 4 and 5.

The parts thus far described form the open top body of the case withonly one large compartment or space. When the body is to form the bodyof an egg case, it is divided into the customary two compartments by theuse of the following arrangement. Referring now to Fig. 8, 35 representsan elongated rectangular strip-like blank or piece of sheet materialpreferably of the same kind as used for the body blank shown in Fig. 1.This blank i scored transversely along lines 36-36 thus forming two endpanels 31-31 and an intermediate .panel 38. When the blank 35 is foldedalong the lines 36-30 into the U- shape shown in Fig. 9, the end panels31-31 are disposed at a right angle to the intermediate panel 38. Theblank 35 is of such a width transversely that the panels 31 and 38 havea height that approximates that of the sides and ends of the body andthe panels 31-31 are of a length approximating half the length of theinside of the sides of the body. In assembling a pair of such blanksinto the body I fold each blank into the U shape of Fig. 9 and placethem in the body with the panels 30-38 thereof arranged back to back andwith the end edges of the panels 31-31 engaged in the corners of thebody as formed by the side and end walls thereof. Thi provides a centraltransverse partition 39 in the body and divides the same into twoapproximately square compartments 40-40 as shown in Fig. 2. With such anarrangement, each compartment is smooth and uninterrupted by anyshoulder ledges or the like in the four sides thereof. Furthermore, whenthe folded blanks or member 35 have been inserted into the case body asdescribed. their top edges are flush with the top edges of the sidewalls 20-20 (see Fig. 3) and the panels 31-31 thereof provide a doublethickness r v ----w i'i'iLliblT 1 x'ziiiii'iiei of stock for each sidewall so that they are strong and rigid.

The top or cover for the body of the case is formed from the blank 4|,shown in Fig. 7, which is preferably made of the same stock or sheetmaterial as that used for the body blank l and the blanks 35-35. Theblank 41, which is of rectangular shape, is scored along the transverselines 42 and 43 and the longitudinal lines 44 and extension parts 54-54as before mentioned, they are folded or tucked under two thicknesses ofstock as formed by the extensions 53 and 24. The use of the pairs ofscored lines 55 and 56 prevents the said flap extensions from springing"outwardly, as would occur if only a single score line were employedtherein.

In will be observed, from Fig. 4, that the flap extensions 54 have ahooked engagement with the 45. Said blank is slitted longitudinally atits extensions 53 and 24 so this enga e e Se y ends as at 46 and 41 andthes slits. form onbut detachably locks the top or cover to the body.tinuations of the score lines 44 and 45. Said It is 0 b n ed that y t euse f t e laterally blank is also scored at 4B and as which are offseted p extensions 54 on e fl p d e inwardly of the score lines 42 and 43 adistance tensions. when tucked into the Spaces are equal to the thicknesf th t k, Th score disposed one on each side of the turned or foldedline; and the slits mentioned divide the blank D p 30 011 the associatedend Wall P into a central top portion 50, with side and end Thus. s dextensions have a d s u fit in flaps 5| and 52 respectively and eachside flap d p ces 3l3| and o not t n o D 5! has end extensions 53-53which are foldable mltwal'dly- It is o p e out t at at e or bendablealong the score lines 48 and 49. end of the Packed and Closed Case.there are Each end flap 52, which is f the same width as fourthicknesses of stock on a line with the top the side flaps, is providedwith a pair of laterally 0f the hand d Opening which foul thickspacedextensions 54-54 and each extension is es form a o d thick cleat t thepp porformed with three score lines 54a. 55 and 56 retion of each End Ofthe p k e- Th tespectively. The score lines 55 and 56 are spaced rialforms a Shock absorblng pe d Cleat apart about the thickness of twopieces of stock see Fig. 4). The score line 54a is provided so that thepart 54 may be more readily inserted with a "-ort of rolling action intothe space 3| at the time the cover is placed on the case body.

sheet blank as in the preferred form. The other part of the structuremay be the same and bear like reference characters.

When the ca=e is to be used for shipping eggs. each compartment 40-40will be packed with eggs E (see Fig. 1) and there will be fifteen dozeneggs in each compartment. Said eggs are arranged in fi e tiers,separated by flats 51 with each tier containing a filler 58 arranged toprovide thirty-six cells, each to receive an egg. No attempt has beenmade to show the exact confi uration of the flats and filler as they areof well-known construction. They have. therefore, been shown in generaloutline without illustrating surface configuration.

Afte the compartment= 40-40 have been packed with eggs as beforementioned, the top or cover is applied thereto in the following manner.The blank 4| shown in Fig. '7 is applied to the open top of the bodywith the score lines 42-43 and 44-45 in substantial register wi h theends and sides of the body. The flaps 5| are then folded downwardlytoward the top margin of the sides of the body. the extensions 53-53 ofboth flaps are then folded about the score lines 48-49 inwardly tooverlap upon the outer faces of the end portions of the extension parts24-24 of end wall parts 21-2! of the body, as best appears. in Figs. 2and 4. Thereafter the flaps 52-52 are folded downwardly to overlap thefolded in flap extensions 53-53 at the respective end: of the body. Inso folding down the flaps 52-52, their extensions 54-54 are foldedinwardly about the pairs of scored lines 55 and 56 and the ends of saidextensions are entered or tucked up from below into the ends of thespaces 3| before mentioned. Said end margins of said extensions are thusconfined in said spaces between the outer face of the body end wallparts 22-22 and the guided over extensions 24 on the end wall parts Inthe folding or tucking in of the therefor. Such a cleat is convenientfor engagement by the outstanding "pick up" arms of a standard eggtruck, which are frequently used in the egg packing industry inconnection with wooden egg crates or cases. Hence the case may betrucked" by the same practice as obtains with respect to handling woodenegg cases.

To open a case packed as before described, the operator grasps the endsof the cleat structure mentioned and springs the same outwardly frombelow so that the flap extensions 54-54 are released and spring out ofthe ends of the spaces 3|. -When this occurs the cover may be liftedupwardly as a unit from the body to uncover the open top thereof.

A shipping case consiructcrl in accordance with this invention has. ormay have. overall dimen sions which an: substantially those of astandard wooden 8. can. It is therefore capable of receiving standardfillers and flats. It may be packed. handled, stacked and shipped assuch an a case and therefore the usual customs and procedures followedin handling wooden egg cases are followed with the improved case so thatany one handling the case has nothing new to learn.

The construction described provides a good grip at the hand holdopenings 32 and which grip is sufiiciently thick at this point toprevent cutting or injury to the hands and breakage of the case underthe action of the load which a filled egg case contains.

Whe eggs are shipped by freight, the cases are arranged lengthwise ofthe car. In the ordinary movement of freight cars, they are subjected toa jarring or jolting as when stopping and starting the car and thisjarring or jolting tends to shift the cases of the pack lengthwise ofthe car. The shocks of such jarring and jolting are to agreat extentabsorbed and cushioned by the cleat structure mentioned.

The improved case requires no metallic parts such as nails or staples inits make up. It may be shipped in a flat knocked-down condition and maybe set up without the aid of tools. forms, or machines and this may bedone by an inexperienced operator.

While in describing the invention I have referred in detail to the form,arrangement and construction of the parts involved, the same is to beconsidered only in the illustrative sense and not by way of limitation.of course modification may be made within the scope of the appendedclaims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. A shipping case embodying therein an open top rectangular body ofsheet material formed to provide a bottom and pairs of upright end andside walls for the body, the upright walls of one of said pairs beingcomposed of a plurality of layers which are a part of a single piece ofmaterial and which include an outer layer, spacing means positioned uponthe outer surface of the upper portion of said outer layer, a layerinwardly of the outer layer including a part folded over to cover saidupper portion of said outer layer and said spacing means, said foldedover part of said layer inwardly of the outer layer, at each sideextending laterally beyond said spacing means to form a downwardlyopening space at each side of said spacing means to receive parts of thecover for the case, and means for securing said layers and said foldedover part together in operative relation.

2. A shipping case embodying therein an open top rectangular body ofsheet material formed to provide a bottom and pairs of upright end andside walls for the body, the upright walls of one of said pairs beingcomposed of a plurality of layers including an outer layer, spacingmeans upon the outer surface of the upper portion of said outer layer, alayer inwardly of the outer layer including a part folded over acrossthe top edge of the outer layer and then down over said upper portion ofsaid outer layer in contact with said spacing means so as to divide thespace between said upper portion of said outer layer and said foldedover part of said inner layer into a plurality of recesses, and meansfor securing said layers and said folded over part together in operativerelation.

3. A shipping case embodying therein an open top rectangular body ofsheet material formed to provide a bottom and pairs of upright end andside walls for the body, the upright walls of one of said pairs beingcomposed of a plurality of layers including an outer layer, anintermediate layer and an inner layer, the upper portion of said layershaving registering hand hold openings therein, spacing means positionedon the outer surface of the outer layer above said hand hold openingtherein, said inner layer including a part folded across the top edge ofthe outer layer and then down upon said upper portion of said outerlayer and so engaged upon said spacing means as to leave space betweensaid upper portion of said outer layer and said folded over part of saidinner layer, beyond the border of said spacing means, and means forsecuring said layers and said folded over part together in operativerelation.

4. A shipping case embodying therein an open top rectangular body ofsheet material formed to provide a bottom and pairs of upright endand'side walls for the body, the upright walls of one of said pairsbeing composed of a plurality of layers including an outer layer, theupper portion of said layers having registering hand hold openingstherein, the outer layer having a part out therefrom and turned back andupward upon the upper portion of said outer layer to form spacing means,said inner layer including a part folded across the top edge of theouter and then down upon the upper portion of said outer layer and soengaged with said turned back and upward part of said outer layer as toleave space between said upper portion of said outer layer and saidfolded over part of said inner layer, and means for securing said layersand folded over part together in operative relation.

5. A shipping case embodying therein an open top rectangular body madefrom sheet material formed to provide a bottom and pairs of upright endand side walls for the body, the upright walls of one of said pairsbeing composed of a plurality of layers including an outer layer,spacing means carried upon the outer surface of the upper portion ofsaid outer layer, a layer inwardly of the outer layer including a partfolded over to cover said upper portion of said outer layer and soengaged with said spacing means as to leave a downwardly opening spacebetween said upper portion of said outer layer and said folded over partof said other layer, a cover for said open top of said body andincluding side walls and end walls, said end walls each including anouter portion having bottom end parts adapted to be folded upwardly andinwardly for insertion into said downwardly opening space and wherebysaid cover has a detachable hooked engagement with said body.

6. A shipping case embodying therein an open top rectangular body madefrom sheet material formed to provide a bottom and pairs of upright endand side walls for the body, the upright walls of one of said pairsbeing composed of a plurality of layers including an outer layer,spacing means carried upon the outer surface of the upper portion ofsaid outer layer, a layer inwardly of the outer layer including a partfolded over to cover said upper portion of said outer layer and soengaged with said spacing means as to leave a downwardly opening spacebetween said upper portion of said outer layer and said folded overpart, a cover for said open top of said body and including side wallsand end walls, said end walls each including an outer layer that hasbottom end parts adapted to be folded upwardly and inwardly forinsertion into said downwardly opening spaces and whereby said cover hasa detachable hooked engagement between said body and said cover, saidside walls of the cover also including extensions adapted to be foldedinwardly upon the associated end of the body and to be disposed betweenthe end wall of the cover and said folded over part of said other layerof said body.

'7. A shipping case embodying therein 3. rectangular open top body madefrom sheet material formed to provide a bottom, side walls and endwalls, each end wall having a hand hold opening therein and including apart extending outwardly and then down over said upper portion of theouter faces of the end walls, spacing means disposed between said foldedover part and the outer face of the end wall above the hand hold openingtherein and forming downwardly opening spaces between said folded overpart and said outer face at each side of said spacing means, a cover forsaid open top of said body and including side walls and end walls, saidend walls each including laterally spaced bottom end flaps adapted to befolded upwardly and inwardly for insertion into said spaces from thebottom thereof and whereby said cover has a detachable hooked engagementwith said body.

8. A shipping case embodying therein a rectangular open top body made ofsheet material formed to provide a bottom, side walls and end walls,each end wall having a hand hold opening therein and including a partextending outwardly and then down over said upper portion of the outerface of the end wall, spacing means disposed between said folded overpart and said outer face above said hand hold opening and formingdownwardly opening spaces between said folded over part and said endwall, one at each side of said means, a cover for said open top of saidbody and including side walls and end walls, said end walls eachincluding laterally spaced bottom end flaps adapted to be foldedupwardly and inwardly for insertion into said spaces from the bottomthereof and whereby said cover has a detachable hooked engagement withsaid body, said side walls of said cover including extensions adapted tobe folded inwardly upon the associated end of the body and to bedisposed between the end wall of the cover and said folded over part ofthe end wall.

9. A shipping case embodying therein an open top rectangular body ofsheet material formed to provide a bottom and pairs of upright end andside walls, the upper portion of each end wall having a part outtherefrom to form a hand hold opening, said out part being positionedupon the upper portion of the outer face of the end wall and formingspacing means, said end walls each having a part extending outwardly anddownwardly, the inner face of the downwardly extending portion of saidpart resting against the outer face of said spacing means whereby spaceis provided between the inner face of said downwardly extending portionand the outer face of the end wall and means securing said parts andmeans in operative relation.

JOHN K. LIMBERT.

